Bayern 1-0 Dortmund: Bayern dominate

Arjen Robben’s superb goal won the game, but Bayern’s nine shots on target to Dortmund’s one demonstrates the home side’s overall dominance.

Jupp Heynckes used the XI that triumphed over Arsenal last week, with one exception – Franck Ribery was out, so Robben started on the left. Daniel van Buyten was alongside Dante again.

Jurgen Klopp was unable to call upon Mats Hummels, so Felipe Santana played alongside Neven Subotic. Kevin Grosskreutz got a start in midfield.

This wasn’t a fascinating tactical battle, but Bayern were by far the better side – pressing well, mixing short intricate passing with longer balls, and featuring good variety and movement in the centre of midfield.

Dortmund shape

For the second consecutive game against Bayern, Klopp decided to go with a 4-3-3 rather than Dortmund’s more natural 4-2-3-1. It was a similar type of compromise – in the previous meeting he used right-sided midfield Jakub Blaszczykowski in a more central role with Ilkay Gundogan to the left of a midfield three, here he did the reverse – left-winger Krosskreutz played as a left-sided shuttler, with Gundogan playing to the right. Sven Bender sat deep.

There’s nothing wrong with reactivity against a side as powerful as Bayern, especially when they dominate the midfield with three talented passers, but it does suggest Klopp isn’t confident in Dortmund’s ability to outplay Bayern with their natural game. His selection was interesting – by using Grosskreutz, rather than Nuri Sahin, in the centre of midfield, he retained the ability to switch back to 4-2-3-1 (and maybe left Heynckes wondering what shape he’d use).

Pressing

The key difference in the first half was the level of pressing. Dortmund didn’t close down high up the pitch – partly because they looked tired, partly because it can be difficult to press a four-man defence with a three-man attack if the side isn’t used to it, and partly because Klopp doesn’t want his players to press so heavily this season.

“I have learned a statistic,” Klopp told UEFA recently.” Teams that run too much lose, and teams that press reduce their chances of winning the game. Now I know why [last season's Champions League failure] happened. We ran more than our opponents and we pressed them all over, as high as possible. If I have a share in the success, I also have a great share in the failure at European level. But we have all learned.”

But Dortmund’s lack of pressure allowed Bayern to build passing moves from deep – Bastian Schweinsteiger dropped very deep into left-of-centre positions to start attacks, and Dante was able to move forward on the ball – more on that later.

Bayern, on the other hand, were more proactive high up the pitch. Mario Mandzukic didn’t have a tremendous game in the penalty box, but he started Bayern’s pressure and forced Dortmund to concede possession cheaply in their own half – in that respect, they certainly missed Hummels.

Bayern areas of strength

In the opening moments, Toni Kroos seemed to find too much space – like in the previous meeting between the sides – and had the game’s first proper chance, failing to convert a simple opportunity when Roman Weidenfeller diverted a cross-shot towards him. There was nothing particularly tactical about that chance, but it did come from Kroos being left free, with no-one in particular tracking his runs. However, Bender did a decent job in the deep midfield role for the rest of the game, preventing Kroos getting too much space between the lines.

Instead, Bayern did two things well. First, both Schweinsteiger (despite him starting deep, and left-of-centre) and Javi Martinez both stormed forward into the inside-right channel, catching Dortmund out with their runs from deep, just as they’d done to Arsenal. This shouldn’t really have happened – Dortmund had enough men in the centre of the pitch to cope – but Bayern presumably felt comfortable to push men forward, safe in the knowledge that Dortmund weren’t using a number ten to exploit the space in midfield. Bayern’s best move of the first half came when Schweinsteiger chipped the ball for Martinez, straight ahead of him in the right channel, and the Spanish midfielder volleyed at Weidenfeller.

Second, Dante strode forward and constantly thumped long diagonal balls towards Thomas Muller, who challenged Marcel Schmelzer in the air successfully three times. There were various problems here – Schmelzer being poor in the aerial battles, Santana not moving across to take charge, and Dortmund allowing Dante forward in the first place.

On the other side, Robben started making runs in behind, although his goal came from a long-range strike, out of nothing.

Dortmund were disappointing. Their shape didn’t completely cope in midfield, although the presence of two advanced wide players did pin back Philipp Lahm and David Alaba well – neither influenced the game as effectively as they did last week against Arsenal. However, their lack of a number ten was obvious. Dortmund triumphed in the German Cup final last season against Bayern because Kagawa stayed high up close to Bayern’s deepest midfielder, then immediately sped in behind on the break. Dortmund didn’t have anyone in that role, and failed to play quick attacking transitions.

Dortmund improve

Having been battered in the first period, Dortmund improved after the break. This was a little reminiscent of the weekend’s Milan derby, with Bayern (playing the AC Milan role) taking their foot off the gas after a dominant first half, despite being only 1-0 up. Maybe they were trying to slow the tempo, but Bayern played with less intensity, and pressed less frequently.

Dortmund were more proactive, though. They were more positive in everything they did – closing down more energetically, and pushing their full-backs high up the pitch. The first move of the second half saw Schmelzer caught out yet again from a long ball to Muller (this time from Schweinsteiger) but throughout the second half, the left-back got around this problem by pushing high up the pitch, forcing Muller back. Muller’s tracking wasn’t great, and he was the first player Heynckes removed.

Bender / Gundogan drop in

Dortmund also built passing moves from deep. Key to this was the movement into deeper positions from Gundogan and Bender, who both had spells dropping between the centre-back. This got around Bayern’s (now half-hearted) press, allowed the full-backs higher, and therefore the wide players inside, and saw Dortmund keep the ball better.

Indeed, Dortmund’s best passing move of the game – when Marco Reus shot past the far post on 58 minutes – came when Gundogan had dropped deep, Bayern’s midfield responded by moving up the pitch and leaving space behind, Dortmund knocked quick passes around them, and Gotze drifted into that space between the lines to create the chance. That simple concept – a holder dropping between the defence – can create so many new passing angles.

Klopp replaced Grosskreutz with Blaszczyskowski, with Gundogan moving from right-centre to left-centre. Blaszczyskowski played higher up, but Dortmund still weren’t quite a 4-2-3-1. Julian Shieber replaced the underwhelming Reus, and had a very good late chance – but Klopp was unable to significantly change the shape of his side through substitutions.

Conclusion

There was no standout tactical feature of this game – Bayern passed well, pressed well, featured runs from deep in midfield, and took advantage of Dortmund’s weak left side of the defence.

It was more about overall dominance from a superior side – after all, Bayern are a staggering 17 points clear of Dortmund in the Bundesliga. After such a poor recent run of results against Klopp’s side, it seemed important that Bayern emphasised the difference in quality with an assured performance in a direct clash between Germany’s big two – by the time Bayern travel to Dortmund in May, the league will have already been won.

17 POINTS!!! Staggering. Seems like the big 4 leagues are relying on the Juve v Napoli game to keep some sort of top two battle. Nonetheless a very solid Bayern performance. Must say PSG win in Coupe Cup was far more convincing than the Ligue clash too.

Do you still see multiple German clubs in the next few years competitively fighting (kind of like the Europa league last season for Spain and Portugal the season before that) for Champions/Europa League trophies given their predicted dominance over European football?
I ask this because 3 of 7 have been knocked out of European football, even though all 3 CL competitors are still in the game, with Bayern 100% guaranteed to progress as well.

I know there are many horrible generalizations made here, but do you think the English press, and the below par pundits will take kindly to a sudden influx of German coaching influence to the Premier League asking for instant success?

Lastly, do you think the top clubs in England will start to look long term (although I do think United are an exception here) and look towards training their own players rather than the buy them while they’re young or just about to hit their theoretical prime model?

KC on February 28, 2013 at 9:34 am

How are United the only model there? A club like Southampton bring in alot of youth players

legoman on February 28, 2013 at 2:23 pm

though that is true, I doubt we will see Southampton challenging the Premier League let alone Champions League, or even the Europa League any time soon.

Marlinho on February 27, 2013 at 11:52 pm

I’ve noticed that Bayern often play like this against better teams this season, press relentlessly in the first half, ease off in the second. Perhaps using Heynckes should use Gomez in the first half to help convert chances as Bayern flood the box, then bring on Mandzukic in the second half when they become more conservative and start playing deeper.

seils on February 28, 2013 at 12:05 am

Although Gómez is not that bad at participating in Munich’s pressing, Mandzukiĉ seems to be a more natural – and therefore more fitting – pressing player. Not for nothing Gómez is above all a supreme counter-striker.

Chung on February 28, 2013 at 12:11 am

I think that Mandzukic plays a important role in Bayern’s pressing. The pressing actually starts with him. Gomez is much less mobile and he won’t work as hard as Mandzukic.

I agree. Mandzukic seems remarkably complete. Partly, credit goes to Magath as Mandzukic’s energy, work rate and strength significantly improved, while it seems he needed a manager like Heynckes. Goes to show they don’t need to spend big money on Lewandowski.

When Kagawa joined Dortmund he was the missing piece. Spectacular quick dribbler with great technique, finishing and use of space. Him playing as an attacking midfielder, staying high up the pitch and waiting for a ball on a counter attack made Borussia Dortmund very clinical on counter attacks. He would end up playing a through ball into the box, bursting with the ball into the box or he would make a clever one-two with one of the attacking players. He didn’t do much in defense but having him up there made the team far more potent that they are this season.

But Dortmund’s defenders are out of form as well.

Borussia had only 1 shot on goal, less than 70% passing accuracy and around 37% ball possession at half time. Bayern were dominant the first half but also throughout the whole match. Roman Weidenfeller had a great match. Even though the shots were coming straight at him, he must be praised for his positioning, reflexes and also the number of saves (8).

If Bayern keep their form until the end of season, I can’t rule out a treble.

seils on February 28, 2013 at 12:19 am

“He didn’t do much in defense but having him up there made the team far more potent that they are this season.”

That is just wrong. Defensively Kagawa was Dortmunds superior offense player. He is one of the most intelligent pressing and counter-pressing players of the game. He did have an exceptional work rate as well.

Therefore this is wrong as well:

“But Dortmund’s defenders are out of form as well.”

They are not out of form, but the team’s pressing cohesion is not as good as it was last year; which prompts their defenders to find themselves in way more critical situations than the year before.

riverboat on February 28, 2013 at 7:35 am

Kagawa is very good, but I would say Reus is a better player and a better player for Dortmund. I would also say that if Man Utd could swop Kagawa for Reus, then they would also want Reus.

OM on February 28, 2013 at 12:19 am

Excellent analysis! I think, the best about Bayern I’ve read from you.
Maybe I simply find everything great about this game, because Bayern really showed what they are able to achieve against their Angstgegner and maybe in Europe. Maybe! I don’t dare to hope for the ultimate trophy anymore…

amine on February 28, 2013 at 12:33 am

you don’t mention the subtitution of muller with gustavo and ariel roben went to the right it was a good tactical move of bayern because gustava blocks the right side of dortmundwhich passed to 4-2-3-1 by drifting
reus to the right so gustavo give a hand to alaba and shwanchtaiger to block this side also roben was dangerous in the right side and keep attaquing shmelzer who couldn’t give a hand in the attaque side so dormtmund haven’t a good balance and it was easy for bayern to keep the score this move that allégri didn’t take in the derby by letting his middle field with 3 players when he was in the lead he should putting ambrosini in the game earlier or droping boateng to the middle field

ThePikeman on February 28, 2013 at 3:20 am

There was a nice little tactical battle going on. In the first half Dortmund played more of a 4-5-1, hoping to win the midfield and to deploy Reus’ speed. Besides that Bayern simply played great in midfield, they used the long diagonal balls to stretch the Dortmund defense.
After the goal, Dortmund opened up a bit, playing a 4-3-3 and getting hold of the midfield. Heynckes reacted by putting on Gustavo for Müller. This gave Bayern back the midfield and forced Dortmund to the flanks. Bayern played a 4-4-2 by that time with 2 dm and 2 cm (arguing that Kroos can be deployed as such), with Robben and Mandzukic/Gomez in front. Dortmund didn’t see a way to win back the midfield and embraced crossing. Reus needs more space to exploit and isn’t the best receiver of crosses, so he was replaced by Schieber.

Hummels was sorely missed I think. He would have given Dortmund another option in build up play and a better settled defense.

RAHUL KHOND on February 28, 2013 at 7:21 am

thanks for doing the game but i was unwell and could not watch the game .

There’s not even one mention of Lewandowski in the article or the first 16 comments, crazy.

Taggerd on February 28, 2013 at 7:33 pm

I’m always amazed by how over-reliant Dortmund are on their first XI. This isn’t just a matter of strength in depth, it seems more like a question of trust. Santana or Sahin obviously aren’t bad players yet when they come into the side, all the players around them seems to lose faith in what they’re doing. This is very obvious with the back four, which, in it’s 1st choice selection, is probably among the best in Europe but once you switch one player, even Hummels becomes prone to amateur mistakes. That Schieber will never get a chance to play in this team so long as Lewandowski has at least one leg available goes without saying. Players at Dortmund also constantly play through the pain barrier in what seems to me like a setup absolutely unsuited to competing in several competitions. Klopp has some thinking to do here.

YW on February 28, 2013 at 9:27 pm

More like the club has some financial issues to resolve.

Oatbag on March 1, 2013 at 4:55 pm

I agree that Hummels would have been better (although santana was very good leasy season against FCB), but Hummels has had some realy stinkers this season. Less so against the top teams, but he is not at his best this season. Its because he isn’t a 100% rock this season, that they stumbled early on in the BuLi (IMO, obviously).

Great stuff ZM! Please keep up the coverage of important Bayern games. A lot of the more higher level debates on tactics seems to be at play with bayern (or their top class opponents). I’m biased sure, but it really does seem like the pendulum is swinging away from ‘tikitaka uber alles’ back a bit towards a more direct approach. And Bayern do seem to have learned lessons from the Barca’s and BVB’s of the world by poaching some of the same gegenpressing tactics. But at the same time, seem to be flexible enough to play a counter style should the match require it.

Since I’m sure you or others might find some holes in what I just said, who do you think is the most interesting side in tactical terms these days? Perhaps Juve?

/end ramble.

Mark on March 1, 2013 at 8:44 pm

Strange line of thought from Klopp accusing Bayern of imitating his team’s playing style.

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